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Parachute rigger 4 years active USAF, 33 years contractor to the USAF still going.
I got to meet some interesting people and performers. George Carlin, the Smothers Brothers, Barenaked Ladies, Tribe Called Quest,
That is horrible!On the down side, I've had two of my projects sink with fatalities. On one, I went in front of a Coast Guard Board of Inquiry. On the other, it was clear that the captain was intent on pulling a Darwin. Unfortunately, he took some other people with him. On neither case was my work considered at fault.
It may not be “a living” but it certainly would be “living”.That is horrible!
BTW I before I got into rockets I wanted to make my own sailboat and sail around the world, it turned out that I can sail pretty good but that’s not exactly a living.
The first one was not the best time in my life. It did make me a better engineer, but it was a very hard way to do that.That is horrible!
It is much, much cheaper to buy a used boat than to build a new one. And it gets you out sailing faster. It can be a living if you know how to do things that are in demand among cruising sailors (fiberglass repair, welding, sail repair, etc.).BTW I before I got into rockets I wanted to make my own sailboat and sail around the world, it turned out that I can sail pretty good but that’s not exactly a living.
The most diversified person on here.Let's see, off the top of my head I recall.....
-- All kinds of theatre/stage work.....sound, lights, production, operations, rigging, logistics, booking, "stage management", roadie, etc. From punk rock shows, to classical/orchestra productions, to bar gigs, to rock concerts, to musical theatre and plays, to political rallies, and on and on. Some studio work as well.
-- Also was a working musician playing on those stages now and then.
-- Lots of other logistics/production/operations type work for "events" and such.
-- Was "Operations Director" for a bunch of years for a non-profit organization involved in outdoor/experiential education for youth.
-- Worked for a lot of years in the bike industry, from being a mechanic to managing a shop, and also a bit of race support.
-- Worked as a river rafting guide, as a bike tour guide, and as a tour guide in Antarctica.
-- Ship's crew in various places around the world.
-- Couple of other "boat driver" jobs here and there...on oceans and rivers with different types of craft.
-- Worked as a graphic designer full time for a few years, and have done occasional freelance work every since.
-- I built guitars, other stringed instruments, along with some other woodworking.
-- I've sold some writing and photography now and then, and have co-authored a couple of guidebooks.
-- Managed an "events rental" company for a few years.
-- Done a bit of construction/carpentry type work.
-- Done biology field work in the Grand Canyon and thereabouts.
-- Worked on a boat inspections crew concerned with invasive species in waterways.
-- Done some community organizing / political outreach type work.
-- Had a few stints in retail, from grocery stores, to book shops, to plumbing supply, to hardware/ranching stores.
-- Did some groundskeeping (in a cemetery and a church!)
-- Lots of different types of one-off odd-jobs for a bit of cash over the years.
-- and yes, I had a paper route when I was a wee lad.
I'm sure I've missed or forgotten a few.
s6
From about the 2:34 to 3:34 time, these folks are flying over a site I used to work at... it's the white dome with cable trays leading up the hill.
Pretty fortunate, got to work a lot of places and see/work on a lot of stuff at China Lake. But I never did get a spent GTR-18 to set on my desk.
And probably the one with the least amount of savings/retirement/money to show for it all.The most diversified person on here.
I have to vent..
(and I'm sure some can relate - joys of engineering)
A meeting was called yesterday, to discuss a series of mechanical breakages (screws snapping) on a particular aspect of product I've helped design / am the lead designer. The part that keeps breaking wasn't designed by me, but (I feel) my input into the design was pretty much ignored, and the issues we are now see, (I feel) were obvious (to me at least). (I feel favoritism to a particular engineer)
the meeting was called (for early next week) and the use of our FEA / FEM analysis* will be presented. (A series of screws broke. We don't need FEM to tell us if you bend a screw enough, it'll break..) Their finding dictate larger screws are needed. But I fear we are just moving the stress to another part of the machine at this point.. they (management / project leader [PL]) don't seem interested in looking at the root cause, as that means a potential redesign of this part. (but minor 'band aid' fixes are OK.. and there have been a few!)
But it'll be me who has to fix it / revise the current design with their findings & decision.
So, I sent my supervisor, the PL, and the dept head a pointed: "i'm upset, we're just putting band-aids on a bad design, and I have nothing to contribute" response to them.. And I get called for not being a 'team player'..
*One PL loves FEM!! He thinks it's the best thing in the world, and can solve any problem! Fancy buzz words & pretty [stress] pictures in my opinion. (It has its place, but not here..)
Sorry, had to vent!
rather bummed about it..
I know that feeling. And also agree that FEA doesn't tell you everything that you need to know.I have to vent..
(and I'm sure some can relate - joys of engineering)
A meeting was called yesterday, to discuss a series of mechanical breakages (screws snapping) on a particular aspect of product I've helped design / am the lead designer. The part that keeps breaking wasn't designed by me, but (I feel) my input into the design was pretty much ignored, and the issues we are now see, (I feel) were obvious (to me at least). (I feel favoritism to a particular engineer)
the meeting was called (for early next week) and the use of our FEA / FEM analysis* will be presented. (A series of screws broke. We don't need FEM to tell us if you bend a screw enough, it'll break..) Their finding dictate larger screws are needed. But I fear we are just moving the stress to another part of the machine at this point.. they (management / project leader [PL]) don't seem interested in looking at the root cause, as that means a potential redesign of this part. (but minor 'band aid' fixes are OK.. and there have been a few!)
But it'll be me who has to fix it / revise the current design with their findings & decision.
So, I sent my supervisor, the PL, and the dept head a pointed: "i'm upset, we're just putting band-aids on a bad design, and I have nothing to contribute" response to them.. And I get called for not being a 'team player'..
*One PL loves FEM!! He thinks it's the best thing in the world, and can solve any problem! Fancy buzz words & pretty [stress] pictures in my opinion. (It has its place, but not here..)
Sorry, had to vent!
rather bummed about it..
I wish it was otherwise, but I was never flight crew and except for the rare "joint mission", AF aircraft would fly out of EAFB and the Navy from Armitage Field at China Lake.Did you fly out of Edwards? Did you get to drop ordinance at China Lake? When there are bombs dropping at China Lake I can hear them here in Pahrump. Sometimes they will rattle the doors of my garage. And that was sure a soft landing.
so what do you use in stagnant seawater?There was a case out here in a public agency where an engineer disagreed with the totally inappropriate materials (stainless steel in stagnant seawater)
fun stuff! (it really is!!) and if you are after an engineering degree, definitely something to master!@dr wogz can you please explain what FEM is?
My wild guess is aluminum of some sort?so what do you use in stagnant seawater?
Thanks!! I have seen that sort of thing but didn’t know the name of it.fun stuff! (it really is!!) and if you are after an engineering degree, definitely something to master!
FEM / FEA "Finite Element Method" or "Finite Element Analysis" - teh ability to see how a part / thing will behave under loads & stress. "When will the part break, and where?"
We use the PTC Creo sim module since we use PTC Creo CAD at work.. (Sucky CAD [interface], but uber powerful!!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite_element_methodhttps://www.simscale.com/docs/simwi...analysis/what-is-fea-finite-element-analysis/
https://www.ansys.com/products/structures/ansys-mechanical
Copper-nickel is the best option, though pricy. It would last for the lifetime of the boat. I believe that straight copper works as well. Weirdly, mild steel will last longer than stainless, though one of the other two options is likely better once you consider replacing it every 5-10 years.so what do you use in stagnant seawater?
Aluminum would probably be worse than stainless. Both depend on oxygen in the water to form a hard film that prevents further corrosion. Without oxygen in the water, both get eaten quickly.My wild guess is aluminum of some sort?
Finite element analysis- a form of engineering stress analysis. If you have a complicated thing that there isn't a known equation or method of analysis, you use software that divides the complicated thing into a lot of finite elements, little pieces, that each can have its behavior modeled. Then you connect them mathematically into what is basically a very large system of simultaneous equations for the computer to solve. It can be very good for some things but is very susceptible to "garbage in garbage out", or "pebkac" (problem exists in the person acting between the keyboard and the computer.@dr wogz can you please explain what FEM is?
It may not be “a living” but it certainly would be “living”.
You can't take money with you. Experiences are valuable too. I've followed dreams and many whims and have had a good ride doing so. I passed a few opportunities in early college in order to "be responsible" and figured out it wasn't the right path for me. As Warren Miller always said, "If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do."And probably the one with the least amount of savings/retirement/money to show for it all.
But, as is sometimes said, "money ain't everything", right?
s6
This right here. So important to find the right balance in life and actually “live life”. After graduation from college I took a year off and was a climbing/ski bum for a year. Lived in the back of a truck. Dead broke but good grief did I ever live.You can't take money with you. Experiences are valuable too. I've followed dreams and many whims and have had a good ride doing so. I passed a few opportunities in early college in order to "be responsible" and figured out it wasn't the right path for me. As Warren Miller always said, "If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do."
I wish it was otherwise, but I was never flight crew and except for the rare "joint mission", AF aircraft would fly out of EAFB and the Navy from Armitage Field at China Lake.
Good question about the detonations... live ordnance would be used by both the AF and Navy on targets in Superior Valley (south of the Navy's Electronic Combat Range (ECR / ECHO) and the Army makes lots of noise at Ft. Irwin, just east of ECHO. The majority of the weapons testing at the main China Lake / North Ranges facilities use telemetry packages rather than warheads. That said, occasionally some real "thumpers" would get lit off up in the Coso Mountain Range to the north and east of the main facilities. Depending on lots of weather variables and topography, you could be hearing explosions from any of those places. And don't forget, you have "noise makers" to the north of you and somehow those sounds could get reflected by mountains.
Here's an video of some of the stuff going on over the hill from you.
during high school I mowed the Catholic cemetery and back then we did not have weed eaters, so we had to hand trim around every foot marker and tombstone, down on our hands and knees.Let's see, off the top of my head I recall.....
-- Did some groundskeeping (in a cemetery and a church!)
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